My '92 Firebird came with a manual fan switch, which is bizarre because the whole thing was totally stock and seemingly unmolested, less this manual fan switch. It actually looks decent though because it uses a small nondescript toggle switch on the dash, which glows orange when it's on and matches the orange guage lights perfectly :-) I never used it during the winter, because it's been so cold, but now it's warming up outside. I was curious when exactly I should have it on, as I've heard and read conflicting statements. I think a stock/ordinary fan comes on a 222 degrees, right? Should I just flip it on if it gets that high, or specifically at a certain other temperature? Should I just use it in traffic? Or whenever I'm travelling under a given speed? I think some people might just say use it all the time unless you're on the highway, so I'm really up in the air and would like to know the best approach for my specific application (being an otherwise stock 92, 5.0 TBI).

 

I have a man fan switch, I usually keep it on all the time, since I'm usually stuck in traffic, but depending on how you drive and what the temp outside is, will let you know how to keep the switch set. for me it's alot easier to keep it on then turn it on and off so I don't have to pay too much attention to my guage and hope it doesn't over heat.

 

I was reluctant to keep it on all the time...this isn't a strain on the fan and the alternator?

 

being in mass it shouldn't be too big of a prob to keep it off, you'll just have to watch the temp gauge more, if nothing else hook the fan switch back up and use the dash switch for something else, mainly the only time to really worry about the temp rising too far is when your in traffic or hit alot of red lights

 

i have one as well and even though our cars stock wwere designed to run aroun 220.. i never have my car get higher than that so on the highway my air damn keeps car at around 180 so i dont need the switch but when i'm on back roads... I put the switch on around 190 and shut it off around 170
i also had that same orange switch but it was cheap and the wire burned out the switch so i replaced it with a heavy duty metal one..

 

I was originally going to install a manual fan switch. However, another option is to simply jumper the wires at the ECM that send/signal both fans. I did that this weekend. Now my ECM controls both fans instead of just the primary fan. When the ECM commands the primary fan ... both fans come on. Very cheap, very easy, and very clean. Furthermore, you'll never have to worry about flipping a switch.

Tim

 

very good point.. i took that decision to account as well but i really like flipping the switch.. haha keeps me busy... although i hate when i'm idling and forget... oops temp up to 250 haha